The latest round of central inspection led by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China will target the ideological and united front system of the Communist Party, with a focus on the Propaganda Department and the United Front Work Department. Analysts believe that the anti-corruption campaign led by Xi Jinping’s confidant Li Xi involves high-level power struggles, and this time it is preparing to clean up the turf of Cai Qi and Wang Huning, who is known as the “National Master of Three Dynasties”.
According to official Chinese media reports on October 30, the list of the Fourth Round of inspections for the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China includes 34 units, such as the Propaganda Department, Central United Front Work Department, Central Cyberspace Administration, Central Taiwan Affairs Office, Central Party School, and other key institutions related to ideology.
On the same day, Li Xi, a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee and head of the Central Inspection Work Leadership Group, participated in the deployment meeting and delivered a speech.
Commentator Li Lin Yi pointed out that the internal power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party have not ceased. Since Xi Jinping’s close confidants took up comprehensive positions after the 20th National Congress, the “anti-corruption” tool in Li Xi’s hands is targeting other members of the Xi family, including Wang Huning and Zhao Leji. The new round of inspections by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is specifically aimed at Cai Qi, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat in charge of ideology, and Wang Huning, the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in charge of united front work.
In recent years, there have been signs of Li Xi “trimming the feathers” of several deputy national level or national level leaders, both current and retired. After assuming the position of Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022, Li Xi initiated a comprehensive cleansing of the “moles” within the Commission, leading to the arrest of many individuals promoted by his predecessor Zhao Leji. Additionally, a group of individuals promoted by Zhao Leji during his time as head of the Central Organization Department have also been investigated, including Luo Yulin, who served under Zhao when he governed Qinghai.
Wang Qishan, who served as Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in Xi Jinping’s first term, retired from his position as Vice President of China in March 2023. Several of his former subordinates have been investigated and heavily sentenced in recent years. For instance, Fan Yifei, who managed finances at China Construction Bank under Wang’s leadership, a former Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, was sentenced to death with a reprieve on October 10 this year. Additionally, Tian Huiyu, a former chief secretary of Wang and former president of China Merchants Bank, was also sentenced to death with a repRIeve for embezzling 500 million Chinese yuan. Another former secretary of Wang, Dong Hong, a former deputy head of the Central Inspection Group, was also sentenced to death with a reprieVe.
On September 28, Cao Xingxin, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom, was investigated. Cao Xingxin was transferred from the Central Organization Department, previously led by Chen Xi, to China Unicom early last year. He had long served in the Central Organization Department, including as Secretary and Deputy Dean (at the bureau level) at the National Institute of Organization Cadres.
Political analyst Chen Pokong pointed out that Cao Xingxin is a close associate of former Central Organization Department Minister Chen Xi.
Chen Xi, who was Xi Jinping’s university classmate, stepped down as Minister of the Central Organization Department in April last year and currently serves as the President of the Central Party School (National Academy of Administration).
The latest units to be inspected also include the Central Party School, which is under the supervision of Cai Qi, a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China.